Sunderland are said to be interested in signing the Premier League star for £35m this summer after securing Europa League football.
Black Cats see off Chelsea as they qualify for the Europa League
The Black Cats capped off an incredible season in their first game back in the Premier League by defeating Chelsea 2-1 at the Stadium of Light on the final day to qualify for next season’s Europa League.
A goal from Trey Hume and an own goal from Maro Gust put Regis Le Bris’ side in an advantageous position before Cole Palmer halved the deficit and it was a nervy end to the game, but the team held their own and secured a return to Europe for the first time since 1974.
Coach Le Bris praised the team’s achievements as follows. “I’m proud of the players, I’m proud of the atmosphere in the stadium and I’m proud of the connections we made again today to create something special.
“We had to win, and I think we were really focused on how we wanted to play this game. We showed good control and scored when the game started. Finally, we managed the last part of the game well with maturity.”
After a well-earned rest, the Frenchman will now turn his attention to strengthening his squad, perhaps gaining much-needed depth now that Europa League football is coming to the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland plan to sign trophy-laden attacker
Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness has confirmed to Football Insider that Sunderland are interested in Liverpool attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott after his loan spell with Aston Villa ends.
Wyness said: “I don’t think Villa will get the benefit of the doubt. That bridge is now burned and Elliott can shine. That’s what I’m hearing about where he goes, including some of the promoted clubs, possibly Sunderland.”
“We’ll see how this ends up, but this is a very sad incident that should have been corrected somehow. There must have been a way for the authorities to make an exception in cases like this. If not, the regulations need to be changed.”
Wyness noted that Elliott had little game time at Villa due to a clause in his contract that made it permanent after a certain number of appearances.
It was essentially a wasted year for the 23-year-old, who made just five appearances in the Premier League, but did manage to steal the show at times with 15 goals and 21 assists in 149 games for Liverpool.
Hailed as “sensational” by journalist Josh Bunting, Elliott won eight trophies with the Reds, as well as winning two European Under-21 Championships with England, and is exactly the kind of player Kyrill Louis-Dreyfus should target ahead of the Europa League campaign.
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